author
R. A. (Richard Alfred) Davenport
d. 1852
A tireless London man of letters, this prolific 19th-century writer turned out biographies, histories, translations, criticism, and reference works across an unusually wide range of subjects. His career was remarkably industrious, and his books reflect the energetic, wide-ranging world of early Victorian publishing.
2 Audiobooks
Sketches of imposture, deception, and credulity
by R. A. (Richard Alfred) Davenport
The history of the Bastile, and of its principal captives
by R. A. (Richard Alfred) Davenport
About the author
Richard Alfred Davenport was an English miscellaneous writer, generally dated to 1777–1852. Sources describe him as having been born in Lambeth and beginning literary work in London at an early age, where he seems to have spent the whole of his long working life.
He wrote with striking range. Contemporary and later reference sources credit him with work in history, biography, geography, criticism, translation, and editing, and with contributing extensively to Rivington's Annual Register. He also produced substantial books of reference, including biographical dictionaries and other compilations that suited the fast-moving print culture of his time.
Davenport's life was exceptionally industrious, and some modern bibliographical sources note that he also published under the name Alfred Howard. He died in Camberwell in January 1852. I couldn't confirm a suitable verified portrait image from the sources I checked, so none is included here.